Reclining massage chair



Oct. 8, 1957 B, .1 O'HARA 2,808,827

RECLINING MASSAGE CHAIR Filed Hay 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 77 77INI/ENTOR. lu-9. 52 hy @0f/m Oct. 8, 1957 D. J: OH ARA RECLINING MASSAGECHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1953 United States Patent ORECLINING MASSAGE CHAIR David J. OHara, Buffalo, N. Y., assigner to OwenK. Murphy, Adarnsville, Pa.

Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,608

9 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 33) This invention relates to a reclining massagechair and more particularly to a chair having a base frame, a seatsection, a backrest section and a legrest section hingedly connected insuch manner that the three sections swing into horizontal alinement witheach other so as to provide a at deck or bench-like structure. One ormore of the sections are provided with a motor driven eccentricallyweighted applicator which transmits gyratory motion through its sectionto the person reclining in the chair or on the alined horizontalsections. By providing such a horizontal deck with the alined sections,a person can comfortably lie on his sides or stomach while beingsubjected to the gyratory action of the motor driven applicator orapplicators, which positions would be uncomfortable if the severalsections could not be brought into the form of a horizontal deck.

Accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention is toprovide a reclining massage chair composed of upholstered articulatedsections which can be brought into horizontal alinement with one anotherso as to provide a Hat deck or bench-like structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reclining massage chairwhich is adapted for the mounting of motor driven applicators on one ormore of the sections to impart gyratory motion to the person recliningon the chair or lying on the horizontal deck.

Another object is to provide a reclining massage chair which is freefrom objectionable noise resulting from the gyration of the chair by themotor driven applicators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reclining massage chairin which the seat, backrest and legrest sections pivot so as to conformto the human body in different degrees of reclining and at all timesprovide full and relaxing support for all parts of the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means forreleasably holding the reclining massage chair in either of its extremepositions so that the device tends to maintain itself either in the formof a generally erect chair or as a horizontally decked bench.

Another object is to provide a simple spring arrangement operative tourge the body supporting sections toward either of these two extremepositions so as to facilitate manipulation of the reclining massagechair.

Another object is to provide a reclining massage chair which in eitherof its extreme positions is of pleasing and attractive appearance andwhich, when used as a chair, has the appearance of a normal upholsteredeasy chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reclining massage chairwhich is free from gears and complicated mechanical movements andessentially is composed of levers and links pivotally connected to oneanother and to the base frame and seat, backrest and leg sections so asto obtain the above referred to movement of the various body supportingsections of the chair.

Another object is to provide a simple latch mechanism for releasablyretaining the reclining massage chair in its erect position.

2,808,827 Patented Oct. 8, 1957 Another object is to provide a recliningmassage chair which is simple and inexpensive in construction and iscomposed of few parts which are rugged in construction so that thereclining chair is not liable to get out of order or require repairs.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionand drawings in which:

Fig. i is a side elevational view of a massage chair embodying thepresent invention and showing the position of the parts when thereclining chair is in its most erect chair position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the reclining massage chair shown in Fig. 1and showing the seat, backrest and leg rest sections swung to a positionwhich provides a benchlike structure having a horizontal deck.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the reclining massage chair withthe parts positioned as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view takengenerally on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 1 and showing thelatch mechanism in greater detail, this latch mechanism also functioningto limit the movement of the body supporting sections toward theposition shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The reclining chair embodying the present invention comprises asupporting base 10 having legs 11 which support a main subframe 12 whichis shown as comprising a pair of side frame bars 13 connected togetherat their front and rear ends by cross bars 14, 15, respectively. Theframe members for both the base 10 and the main subframe 12 canadvantageously be made of wood and the side frame bars 13 are each shownas having its upper face 16 inclined with reference to the horizontal,the inclination being downward from the front toward the rear end ofeach side frame bar 13. A stop, rest or fulcrum block 18 is shown assecured to the upper face 16 of each side frame bar 13 at the rear endthereof, the upper face 19 of this stop, rest or fulcrum block 18 beingpreferably in line with the extreme forward end of the inclined upperface 16.

The main subframe 12 supports three articulated sections, thesecomprising a seat section 20, a backrest section 21 and a leg restsection 22. The seat section 20 comprises a subframe 23 resilientlysupporting a cushion frame 24. The backrest section 21 comprises asubframe 2S resiliently supporting a cushion frame 26. The leg restsection 22 comprises a subframe 28 on which a cushion frame 29 ismounted.

The subframe 23 for the seat section 20 is shown as comprising a pair ofrectangular side frame bars 30 connected together at their rear ends bya cross bar 31. Each of the frame side bars 30 is in vertical alinementwith the corresponding side frame bar 13 of the main subframe 12 and theforward ends of each pair of side bars i3, 30 are in vertical alinementand connected by a strap 32 which forms a strap hinge, these straphinges 32 thereby connecting the forward end of the seat section 2i!with the main subframe 12 in such manner that the lower edge 33 of eachside bar 30 can move down and mate with or rest upon the inclined upperface 16 of the corresponding side frame bar 13 of the main subframe 12.

A pair of small helical compression springs 34 are interposed betweenthe main subframe 12 and the subframe 23 of the seat section. Each ofthese helical compression springs 34 seats on a bracket 35 secured tothe inner face of the corresponding side frame bar 13 of the mainsubframe 12 and the upper end of each helical compression spring 34seats in and supports a bracket 36 secured to the inner face of thecorresponding side bar 30 of the seat subframe 23, this bracketpreferably being arranged under the cross bar 31.

The upholstered cushion frame 24 for the seat subframe 23 is shown ascomposed of side bars 38 cnnected by cross bars 39 to provide arectangular frame which is shown as provided with a plurality ofupwardlyarching springs 4l) each of which is of zig-zag or sinusoidalform in plan and eachwof which is secured at its opposite ends to thecorresponding cross bars 39. The yielding surface so provided by theupwardly arching zig-zag springs 40 is covered with upholstery 41. Theform of this upholstering may conform to that generally known in the artand hence not being illustrated in detail.

Desirably, gyratory movement is imparted to the upholstered cushionframe 24 Yof the seat section 20 and for this purpose this upholsteredframe is preferably yieldingly mounted on the subframe 23 of the seatsection 20. Such yielding mounting can comprise strips or bodies 42 ofsponge rubber or the like, these bodies being received in recessesprovided in the upper faces of the subframe 23 and these bodies orstrips also being received in recesses provided on the undersides of thecushion frame 24. To prevent separation of the cushion frame 24 from itssubframe 23, canvas straps 43 of Lt'orm in cross section can be employedwith the upper horizontal part of each canvas strap 43 secured to theunderside of the cushion frame and with the vertical part secured to theinner face of the subframe 23.

The cushion frame 24 of the seat section 20 and the springs 40 of thiscushion frame are gyrated by a motor driven applicator indicatedgenerally at 45 and illustrated in Fig'. 4. This motor driven applicatoris shown as being of the sarne form as shown in the copendingapplication of Owen K. Murphy for Table Type of Motor OperatedKinesitherapy Device, tiled August 22, 1952, Serial No. 305,845, nowPatent No. 2,717,593, granted September I3, 1955, and hence is notillustrated or described in detail. This motor driven applicator, asillustrated in Fig. 4, comprises a motor mounted in rubber and securedto the zig-zag springs 40 as by a relatively rigid gyratory motiontransmitting member fixed to and extending transversely of the pluralityof zigzag springs 40 with the gyratory motor located at the approximatecenter of the seat cushion frame 214, the shaft of the motor beingeccentrically weighted so as to impart a gyratory movement to thesprings 40 and upholstery covering of the cushion trarne 24 ofwth'e seatsection 20.

It is desirable to guide the subfrarne 23 of the seat section Z in thevertical movement permitted by the strap hinges 32. vFor this purpose tothe inner face of each side frame 30 is secured, as by screws 46, ametal plate which projects downwardly and extends alongside the innerface of the corresponding side frame bar 13 of the main subframe 12.Preferably this plate is vertically slotted, as indicated at 49 toreceive the shank of a guide screw 50 which is screwed through this slotinto the corresponding side frame bar 13. addition to preventing lateralmovement of the seat section with reference to the main subframe 12, theplate 48 and screw 50 also prevent separation of these parts beyond thatshown in Fig. 4, this being important if the reclining massage chairshould be lifted by seizing the seat section 20.

The subfrarne of the backrest section 21 comprises a pair of side framebars 55 connected at their front and rear ends by cross bars 56, 58. Theupper faces of these frame bars 55, 56, 58 can be recessed to receivebodies or strips 59 of sponge rubber or the like and which also projectinto recesses in the undersides of the side bars and cross bars 60 ofthe cushion frame 26. To retain the cushion frame 26 in position andalso to hold the rubber bodies 59 under compression, strips 61 of thecanvas can connect the frames 25, 26 as shown. Also as with the cushionframe 24 of the seat section 20, a plurality of spaced upwardly archingzig-zag or sinusoidal springs 62 are xed at the ends thereof to theframe bars 6I) of the cushion frame 26 and a motor driven applicator 45is It will be seen that in i til) operatively connected to the undersideof these springs 62 as by a gyratory motion transmitting memberextending transversely of the springs 62 across the approximatemidsection thereof as illustrated in Fig. 4. This motor drivenapplicator would be similar to the motor driven applicator in the scatsection 20 and would serve to impart gyratory movement to the zig-zagsprings 62 and its upholstery covering and thence to the back of theperson resting against the backrest section 21.

The side frame hars of the subframe for the backrest section 21 are inline with and adapted to rest upon the stops, rests or fulcrum blocks 18which form part of the main subframe 12.

The subframe 28 of the legrest section 22 comprises a pair of side framebars 65 connected at their front and rear ends by cross bars 66, 68. Onthis subframe 28 can be secured the cushion frame 29 which is shown ascomposed of side frame bars 69 connected by cross bars 70. The cushionframe 29 of the legrest section is provided with upwardly archingsprings 7l of zig-zag form in plan and whose ends are conriected to thecross bars 70 as shown in Fig. 4. The cushion trarne 29 for the legrestsection 22 may be, but need not be provided with a motor drivenapplicator 45. Instead, the subframe 28 of the legrest section is shownas connected to the cushion frame 24 of the seat section 20 by a hinge72. This hinge is preferably interposed between the forward end of thecushion frame 24 of the seat section 20 and the cross bar 68 of thesubframe 28 for the legrest section 22. Through this hinge 72oscillations generated by the motor driven applicator 45 for the seatsection 20 are transmitted to the legrest section 22. The hinge 72 alsopermits the legrest section 22 to be dropped to a vertical position inwhich the subfrarne 2'8 is interposed between the side frame bars 13 ofthe main subframe 12 as well as the side frame bars 30 of the subframe23 for the seat section 20.

The present invention also includes mechanism for operatively connectingthe several sections 20, 21 and 22 with one another and with the mainsubframe 12 so that by simple manipulations the seat section, backrestsection and legrest section can be brought to and latched in the seatingposition shown in Fig. l to serve as a comfortable upholstered easychair; and so that these body supporting sections can be unlatched fromthis posit-ion and moved so that its occupant is fully supportedthroughout the length of his body while in a semi-supine position; andso that the upper surfaces of all of the sections 20, 21 and 22 can bebrought to a common horizontal level to provide a substantially liatdeck upon which the person can comfortably lie horizontally fullystretched out on his stomach and sides as well as on his back.

To this end a lever arm 8l) is secured, as by screws or bolts 82, to theexterior face of each of the side frame bars 55 of the subframe 2S ofthe backrest section 21'. These lever arms 80, in the erect position ofthe backrest section shown in Fig. l, project downwardly alongside theside frame bars 30 of the subfrarne 23 for the seat section 20. Eachlever arm is pivoted as indicated at 83 to the rear end of its sideframe bar 30 of the seat section 20, the pivots 83 at opposite sidesbeing coaxial.

At least one of the lever arms 80 projects beyond its pivot 83 andcarries a pin 84 which traverses a groove 85 in an arcuately orangularly shaped arm 86. This arm 86 is pivoted to the correspondingside frame bar 30 as indicated at 88 and the lower end of the arcuateslot S5 is provided with an upwardly extending pocket or notch 89 inwhich the pin 84is caught when the backrest section 21 is moved to theerect position shown in Fig. 1. The opposite end 90 of the groove 85provides a stop limiting the corresponding relative movement of the pin84 and backrest section 21.

For convenient manual release of the arm 86, a push rod 91 having a knob92 is mounted for vertical movement in a bracket 93 secured to the sideframe bar 30 which carries the arm 86. The lower end of this push rodacts against the forward end of a lever 94 pivoted at its center, asindicated at 95, to swing about a horizontal axis. The rear end of thislever supports a shoulder 96 at the free end of the arm 86. It will beseen that when the push rod 91 is depressed, the rear end of the lever94 is elevated to swing the arm 86 upwardly about its pivot 88 andthereby free the pin 84 from the notch 89 and permit this pin to moveupwardly along the arcuate slot 85 until it reaches the end 90 of thisslot.

The backrest section 21 is shown as having a second pair of lever arms98 fixed thereto. Each of these lever arms 98 is shown as secured to theinner face of a corresponding side frame bar 55 of the subframe 25 forthe backrest section 21, as by screws 99. Each of these lever arms 98 isshown as projecting backwardly from the backrest section and thence, inthe erect position of the backrest section shown in Fig. l, downwardlyto a position within the main subframe 12. The lower ends of the leverarms 98 are provided with coaxial pivots 100 each of which connects witha long link 101. The Iopposite end of each link 101 is pivotallyconnected, as at 102 to a bracket 103 secured to the corresponding sideframe bar 65 of the subframe 28 for the legrest section 22. A pair oflong tension springs 104 are also provided, one end of each of thesetension springs being connected to one of the pins 102 and its oppositeend connecting with a screw eye 105 fast to the cross bar 3l of thesubfrarne 23 for the seat section 20.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l the structure embodyingthe present invention is in the form of a normal upholstered chair. Thusthe legrest section 22 is withdrawn to an inoperative pendant positionunder the forward end of the seat section 20. Also the weight of thebackrest section 21 is impressed on the rear or free end of the seatsection so as to hold this seat section fully depressed and the helicalcompression springs 34 compressed. Accordingly the upholstered face ofthe seat section inclines downwardly and rearwardly and the faces 33mate with the inclined faces 16 of the main subframe 12. Also thebackrest section 21 is rigidly held in its upper backwardly incliningposition. Desirably the reclining seat would have upholstered armsattached to the main subframe 12, such arms being of any desired form toincrease the comfort and use of the device as an upholstered chair asshown in Fig. l.

When the parts are drawn to the position shown in Fig. l they arereleasably latched in this position. Thus, referring to Fig. 5, in thisposition the pin 84 at the lower end of the lever arrn 80 is caught inthe downwardly opening notch 89 at the lower end of the arcuate groove85 of the arm 86 and hence this lever arm 80 cannot pivot about thepivot point 83. Since this lever arm 80 is held immobile the backrestsection 21 is held against movement. Since the backrest section 21 isheld against movement its other lever arm 98 is held against movementand hence is held in a position in which the link 101 is in a rearwardposition and the legrest section 22 held against being drawn forwardly.Accordingly, when used as a normal erect upholstered chair, the partsare latched in the position shown in Fig. l. In this position either orboth of the motor driven applicators 45 can be energized to transmitgyratory action through the upholstered cushion frame 24 of the seatsection 20 and upholstered cushion frame 60 of the backrest section 21to the body of a person seated on the reclining chair with his backagainst the backrest section 21.

When the occupant wishes to be supported in a more reclined, but notnecessarily prone or supine, position the occupant presses on the knob92 so as to press the rod 91 (Fig. 5) downwardly and thereby rotate thedouble ended lever 94 about its pivot 95. This lifts the slotted arcuateor angular arm 86 as shown in Fig. 5 which rotates about the pivot 88and thereby moves the pin 84 out of the notch 89 and into slot 85. Sincethis slot is concentric with the pivot 83, when the occupant pushes backon the backrest section 21, this backrest section yields and swingsrearwardly about the pivot 83 thereby to assume a shallower angle withreference to the horizontal. The occupant pushes back on the backrestsection 21 until it is disposed at the angle most comfortable to him. Inso moving backwardly the pin 84 (Fig. 5) travels a correspondingdistance along the slot 85.

In so swinging backwardly about the pivot 83 the pivot pins 100 at theends of the levers 98 fast to the backrest section 21 swing forwardly inan are concentric with the axis of the pivot 83. Accordingly the link101 (Fig. 4) is moved forwardly, thereby to swing upwardly the legrestsection 22, this legrest section pivoting about the hinge 72. It willaccordingly be seen that as the occupant pushes the backrest section 21rearwardly to a tiatter angle with reference to the horizontal thelegresl section 22 is also swung upwardly so as to provide a support forhis legs, the legrest section 22 moving to ward a horizontal position asthe backrest section 21 also moves toward a horizontal position. Whilein any such angular position of the parts the operator can energizeeither of the motor driven applicators 45 so as to provide gyratorymotion imparted to his body.

When the user desires to use the chair as a at bench with the uppersurfaces of the sections 20, 21 and 22 in horizontal alinement with oneanother to provide a fiat upholstered deck, the user merely pushes thebackrest section 21 down to the horizontal position illustrated in Figs.2, 3 and 4. When this backrest section 21, swinging about the pivot 83,reaches this horizontal position it is supported on the stop, rest orfulcrum block 18 and also the link 101 (Fig. 4) has been extendedforwardly so that the legrest section 22 is horizontal with its uppersurface in horizontal alinement with the upper surface of the backrestsection 21. As the backrest section 21 so approaches its full horizontalposition it engages the stop, rest or fulcrum block 18. Following suchengagement, as the backrest section 21 is moved to the full horizontalposition shown in Fig. 4, its lower or pivoted end is lifted thereby,through the lever arms and pivots 83, also lifting the rear end of theseat section 20. This lifting of the rear end of the seat section 20 issuch as to bring its upper surface into horizontal alinement with theupper surfaces of the sections 21 and 22. In this position of the partsthe eective spacing of the pivot 83 from the stop, rest or fulcrum block18 is so small that even a substantial weight on the rear end of theseat section 20 would not impose suliicient force to depress the seatsection 20 and lift the backrest section 21. Accordingly the sections20, 21 and 22 retain their positions of horizontal alignment illustratedin Figs. 2, 3 and 4 until the outer end of the backrest section 21 isdeliberately lifted. While in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 themotor operated applicators 45 are particularly useful since while inthis position the occupant can comfortably lie on his stomach, sides orback and be fully supported and which would not be possible if theupholstered surfaces of the sections 20, 21 and 22 were not inhorizontal alinement.

It will be noted that the linal lifting movement of the seat section 20is assisted by the small helical compression springs 34. Also, when theseveral sections 20, 21 and 22 assume the horizontally alined positionshown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the pin 84 reaches the end of the arcuateslot 85, this end thereby acting as a stop to prevent the backrestsection 21 from going beyond a horizontal position.

When the operator desires to restore the apparatus from the bench-likeform illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 to the chair form illustrated inFigs. l and 5 he merely lifts the outer end of the backrest section 21,this section pivoting about the pivot 83. As the backrest section 21pivots about the pivot 83, it leaves the stops, rests, or fulcrum blocks18 so that the weight of the backrest asesorar section 11 is transferredfrom these blocks to the seat section 26 so as to press downwardly onthe rear end of the seat section and depress this seat section intoengagement with the inclined surfaces 16 of the main subframe 12 againstthe resistance of the helical compression springs 34. As the same timethe upwardly swinging movement of the backrest section 21 about thepivot 83, through the arms 98, moves the links 101 rearwardly so as toswing the leg section 22 downwardly and rearwardly about its hinges 72.ln such movement of the parts back to the position shown in Figs. l and5 the paired long helical tension springs 104 serve to assist suchmovement the elect of these springs progressively increasing as thelegrest section 22 swings further toward its inoperative verticalposition in which it is housed within the forward ends of the mainsubframe l2 and subframe 23 for the seat section 20. When the bodysupporting sections reach the extreme position shown in Figs. l and 5the pivotally supported slotted arm 86 swings downwardly, such downswingbeing permitted by the pin 84 coming into register with the notch 89 inthe arcuate slot of this slotted arm. Accordingly the body supportingsections are restored to the position rst assumed in which the structureis latched in the form shown in Pigs. l and 5 for normal use as anupholstered easy chair.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention providesan extremely simple linkage which permits this upholstered massage chairto be manipulated so that its seat, backrest and legrest sections comeinto horizontal alinement with one another to provide a bench. It willbe seen that the capability of the sections 20, 2l and 22 to assume thishorizontal benchlike position is of particular importance since thiscapability permits the chair to be used as a full length at bench formassage treatment of the users body in a fully prone or supine position.

It will also be seen that numerous changes and modilications can bemade, and the invention is therefore not to be construed as limited tothe particular construction shown but is to be the full range ofequivalents comprehended by the claims.

I claim:

l. ln a reclining massage chair including in combination. a seat sectionincluding an upholstered cushion frame, a backrest section including anupholstered cushion frame, a pair of lever arms fast to said backrestsection and in the upright position of said backrest section projectingdownwardly alongside the frame of said scat section, and coaxial pivotsconnecting said arms and the frame of said seat section on a generallyhorizontal axis extending transversely of said reclining chair and amotor driven applicator operatively connected to each of saidupholstered cushion frames ot the seat section and backrest section togyrate the same; the combination therewith of a latch for holding saidbackrest section in its upright position and limiting the downwardmovement thereof, comprising an arm having a slot, a pivotal connectionbetween one end of said arm and the frame ofV said seat section, a pinriding in said slot and fast to said backrest section and supportingsaid arm, said slot being provided in its upper side with a downwardlyopening notch, said pivoted arm moving downwardly when said pin passessaid notch whereby said pin enters said notch to be latched againstmovement along said slot, and means arranged to manually lift the freeend of said arm to release said pin from said notch.

2. A reclining massage chair including in combination, a seat sectionincluding an upholstered cushion frame, a legrest section including anupholstered cushion frame pivoted to the forward end of said seat frameto swing from a depending generally vertical position to a substantiallyhorizontal position with its upper surface forming a horizontalcontinuation of said seat section, a backrest section including anupholstered cushion frame pivoted to the rear end of said seat frame toswing from an lil] upright position to a substantially horizontalposition with its upper surface forming a horizontal continuation of theupper surfaces of the upholstered cushions frames of said seat sectionand legrest section, a depending lever arm fixed to said backrest frameand extending below the pivotal connection between said backrest frameand said seat frame, a bracket xed to said legrest frame adjacent thepivotal connection between said seat frame and said legrest section andarranged to depend from said legrest section when said legrest sectionis horizontally disposed, a long link pivotally connecting the free endof said lever arm with said bracket, tension springmcans connected atits opposite ends to said seat frame and legrest section frame andyieldingl)l urging said legrest and backrest sections to one of theirextreme positions, and a motor driven applicator operatively connectedto the upholstered cushion frame of said seat section to gyrate thesame.

3. A reclining massage chair including in combination, a seat sectionincluding an upholstered cushion frame, legrest section including anupholstered cushion frame pivoted to the forward end of said scat frameto swing from a depending generally vertical position to a substantiallyhorizontal position with its upper surface forming a horizontalcontinuation of the upholstered cushion of said seat section. a backrestsection including an upholstered cushion frame pivoted to the rear endof said seat frame to swing from an upright position to a substantiallyhorizontal position with its upper surface forming a horizontalcontinuation of the upper surfaces of the upholstered cushions said seatsection and legrest section, a depending lever arm fixed to saidbackrest frame and extending below the pivotal connection between saidbackrest frame and said seat frame, a bracket fixed to said legrestframe adjacent the pivotal connection between said seat frame and saidlegrest section and arranged to depend from said legrest section whensaid legrest seetion is horizontally disposed, a long link pivotallyconnecting the free end of said lever arm with said bracket, tensionspring means connected at its opposite ends to said seat frame andbracket and yieldingly urging said leg and backrest sections to one oftheir extreme positions, and a motor driven applicator operativelyconnected to the uphlostered cushion frame of said seat .section and asecond motor driven applicator operatively connected to the upholsteredcushion frame of said backrest section to gyrate the same.

4. A reclining massage chair including in combination, a supportingbase, a seat section having an upholstered cushion frame supported fromsaid base, a cushioned legrest `section pivotally supported from said*base and designed to swing from a depending generally vertical positionto a substantially horizontal position, a backrest section having anupholstered cushion frame pivotally connected to the rear portion ofsaid seat frame and designed to swing from a substantially uprightposition to a substantially horizontal position, depending lever armsfixed to said backrest frame and extending below the pivotal connectionbetween said backrest frame and said seat frame, linkage meansoperatively connected to the underface of said legrest frame and to thedepending lever arms of said backrest frame whereby said legrest sectionand seat frame may be manipulated to and from substantially horizontalposition by corresponding movement `of said backrest frame, and tensionsprings operatively connecting said seat frame and legrest section tothereby yielda'bly urge said legrest section and backrest section to oneof its extreme positions, said seat frame and backrest frame eachpresenting a pair of spaced substantially parallel frame members, eachof said paired frame members having a plurality of upwardly arching wiresprings of sinusoidal form in plan whose opposite ends are tixedlysecured to the spaced frame members of said seat and backrest frames,each set of sinusoidal springs forming an upwardly arching supportingsurface operative to yieldably support that portion of the bodyreclining thereagainst, upholstered padding and covering extending overand supported by each of said upwardly arching surfaces as formed bysaid sinusoidal springs, and a gyratory motion producing motoroperatively connected to each set of sinusoidal springs along theapproximate midsection thereot whereby gyratory massage action istransmitted through said sinusoidal springs and upholstery covering tothose portions of the body reclining there-against.

5. A reclining massage chair including in combination, a supportingbase, a seat section having an upholstered cushion frame supported fromsaid base, a legrest section pivotally supported from said base anddesigned to swing from a depending generally vertical position to asubstantially horizontal position, a cushioned backrest sectionpivotally connected to the rear portion of said sevt frame and designedto swing from a substantially upright position to a substantiallyhorizontal position, a pair of depending lever arms xed to said backrestsection and extending below the pivotal connection `between saidbackrest section and said seat frame, linkage means operativelyconnected to the underface of said legrest scction and to the dependinglever arms of said backrest section whereby said legrest section andseat section may be manipuinted to and from substantially horizontalposition by corresponding movement of said backrest section, and tensionmeans operatively connecting said seat frame and legrest section tothereby yieldably urge said legrest section and backrest section to oneof its extreme positions, said seat frame presenting a pair of spacedframe members, a plurality of upwardly arching wire `springs ofsinusoidal form in plan whose opposite ends are xedly secured to thespaced frame members of said seat fratrie, said sinusoidal springsforming an upwardly arching supporting surface operative to yieldablysupport that portion of the body reclining thereagainst, upholsterypadding and covering extending over and supported by said upwardlyarching surface as formed by said sinusoidal springs, and a gyratorymotion producing motor operatively connected to said springs along theapproximate midsection thereof whereby gyratory message action istransmitted through said springs and upholstery covering to that portionof the body reclining thereagainst.

6. A reclining massage chair including in combination, a supportingbase, a seat section supported from said hase, a legrest sectionpivotally supported from said base and designed to swing from adepending generally vertical position to a substantially horizontalposition, a backrest section having an uphoistered cushion framepivotally connected to the rear portion of said seat section anddesigned to swing from a substantially upright position to asubstantially horizontal position, a `pair of `depending lever arms xedto said backrest frame and extending below the pivotal connectionbetween said backrest frame and said seat section, linkage meansoperatively connected to the underface of said legrest section and tothe depending lever arms of said backrest frame whereby said legrestsection and seat section may be manipulated to and from substantiallyhorizontal position by corresponding movement of said backrest frame,and tension means operatively connecting said seat section and legrestsection to thereby yieldably urge said legrest section and backrestSection to one of its extreme positions, said backrest frame presentinga pair of spaced frame members, a plurality of upwardly arching wiresprings of sinusoidal form in plan whose opposite ends are fixedlysecured to the spaced frame members of said backrest frame, saidsinusoidal springs forming `an upwardly arching supporting surfaceoperative to yieldably support that portion of the body recliningthereagainst, upholstery padding and covering extending over andsupported by said upwardly arching surface as formed by said sinusoidalsprings, and a gyratory motion producing motor operatively connected litto said sinusoidal springs along the approximate midsection thereofwhereby gyratory massage action is transmitted through said sinusoidalsprings and upholstery covering to that portion of the body recliningthereagainst.

7. A body massaging structure including in combination. a cushionedframe presenting a pair of spaced frame members, means for supportingsaid cushioned frame in elevated position, a plurality of spacedupwardly arching wire springs of sinusoidal form in plan whose oppositeends are secured to said spaced frame members, said plu- .xl ty springstogether presenting an upwardly arching supporting surface operative toyieldably support a body reclining thereagainst, upholstery padding andcovering extending over and supported by said upwardly arching surfaceas formed by said sinusoidal wire springs, and a gyratory motionproducing motor operatively connected to said sinusoidal springs alongthe approximate midsectional area thereof whereby gyratory massageaction is transmitted through said sinusoidal springs and upholsterycovering to the body reclining thcrcagainst.

8. A cushioned body massaging structure having a seat section and abackrest section which includes a frame structure presenting spacedframe members, means for supporting said frame structure in elevatedposition, said backrest section and seat section cach having a pluralityof spaced upwardly arching wire springs of sinusoidal form in plan whoseopposite ends are secured to said spaced trame members, cach set of saidsinusoidal springs presenting an upwardly arching supporting surface forsaid bracket section and said seat section respectively operative toyieldably support those portions of a body reclining thereagainst,upholstery padding and covering extending over and supported by each ofsaid upwardly arching surfaces as formed by said sinusoidal wiresprings, and a gyratory motion producing motor operatively connected toeach set of sinusoidal springs along the approximate midsectional areathereof whereby gyratory massage action is transmitted through saidsinusoidal springs and upholstery covering of said sent section andbackrest section and to those portions of the body recliningthereagainst.

9. A massage chair having a supporting base, a cushioned backrestsection, and a seat section having an upholstered cushion framesupported from said base, said seat frame presenting a pair of spacedframe members, a plurality of upwardly arching wire springs ofsinusoidal form in plan whose opposite ends are fixedly secured to thespaced frame members of said seat frame, said sinusoidal springs formingan upwardly arching supporting surface yieldable to body weight,upholstered padding and covering extending over and supported by saidupwardly arching surface as formed by said sinusoidal springs, and agyratory motion producing motor operatively connected to said springsalong the approximate midsectional area thereof whereby gyratory massageaction is transmitted through said springs and upholstery covering tothat portion of the body reclining thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS834,285 Flindall Oct. 30, 1906 983,118 Bores Jan. 31, 1911 1,108,897Geisler Sept. 1, 1914 1,352,612 Lance Sept. 14, 1920 2,011,870 ierlcszAug. 20, 1935 2,375,151 riroxcll May 1, 1945 2,492,671 Wcttlaufcr Dec.27, 1949 2,587,207 Peterson Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,707 ItalyJune 14, 1948

